Pressing-machine.



E. A. CLEMENTS.

PRESSING MACHINE.

APPLECATION FILED JUNE II. 1915.

Patented Sept. 14, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

E. A. CLEMENTS.

PRESSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IuIIEII. 1915.

Patented ept-. 14, .1910.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2 E. A. (ELEMENTS.

PRESSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED lUNE H. 1915.

fa 0! MW Ms.

Patented Sept. 14., 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3 hvemfom EILER'I ALFRED CLEMENTS, 0F GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB T0 GRAND RAPIDS TEXTILE MACHINERY COMPANY, GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, A COR- PORATION OF MICHIGAN.

PRESSINGI-MACHINE.

-Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. lid, T915.

Application filed June 11, 1915. Serial No. 33,618.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EILERT ALFRED CLEM- ENTS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pressing-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to pressing machines, and more particularly to such machines when used for pressing under garments afterthe same have gone through the various operations of manufacture.

The objectpf my invention is to provide a pressing machine which is automatic in its operations; that only requires, that the garments which are to be pressed be placed on a belt conveyer at the intake endof the machine and after such garments have been subjected to the pressing operation and emerge from the pressing mechanism to be removed'from the discharge end of the machine, as will more fully appear by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1, shows a longitudinal vertical section of my improved automatic pressing machine. taken on the line 1.1, of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 shows a transverse vertical section of the same, taken on the line 22, of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, shows a longitudinal vertical section of one end of the device to show the traveling conveyer and its driving mechanism; Fig. 4, shows an enlarged detail of the automatically operating clutch mechanism, by which the intermittent motion of the traveling conveyer v is accomplished, and,

Fig. 5, shows an enlarged detail of the guides for the movable platem Like numerals refer to like parts in all the figures.

The two side members 1, which carry the variousworking parts of the device, are secured at their lower ends to the foot orbase member 15, to which member are also fixed the-gear and clutch mechanism 35, and thebracket 14, to which is pivotally attached the lever 13. The main shaft 6, is journaled in bearings 20, on the frame members 1. A platen 2, which is adapted to be.

heated by steam, is mounted on four studs 21, fixed on and at the respective upper corners of the frame members 1.

The platen 2, is adapted to have a small vertical movement to compensate for the varying thickness of the articles to be pressed, and also to avoid having the platen 3, come up againsta non-yielding obstruction. The pressure which is applied during the pressing operation is obtained by the combined effect of the weight of the platen 2, and the resistance to compression of the springs 21, of which there are four, mounted above the ears of the platen 2, on the studs 21. The tension on the springs 21, may be varied, and thus the pressure on the articles to be pressed, or the 'resist ance to upward movement of the platen 2, may be varied by means of the adjusting nuts 21, which are in screw threaded adjustable relation to the studs 21. The normal position of the platen 2, is limited in a downward direction by engaging and being supported upon the upper ends of the frame members 1. Caps 21, are provided for covering and protecting the springs 21. A platen 3, is mounted beneath the platen 2, and is adapted to have a vertically reciprocating motion. This platen 3, is fixed at its center 3, on the surface 4, of the member 4. Four springs 4 are mounted on the member 4, and extend to and engage the under surface of the'platen 3. This construction is provided to give the platen 3, a slight yieldmg or rocking adjustment, so that when the same is forced up into pressure relation with the under surface of the platen 2, with one side of the conveyer 5, therebetween, the

.i'ollers 17, the upper pair of which are journaled on studs which are fixed directly to the frame members 1, and the lower pair being journaled on studs fixed on the bracket 19,. which bracket is-fixed to the framemember 1. @n the lower end of. the

member 18, is journaled a non-friction roller 18. These rollers are so positioned that they engage the cams 7, which cams are fixed on the main shaft 6, hence, as said shaft is rotated the various parts 18, 4, and 3, are given a vertically reciprocating motion.

F or conveying the articles to be pressed into the apparatus a traveling belt conveyer 5, is provided, and which is so positioned that its upper side extends between the adj acent surfaces of the platens 2, and 3. The articles to be pressed are placed on this con- 'veyer, and are carried thereon between the adjacent surfaces of the platens 2,'and 3. In the cycle of operation of the press, the said conveyer moves forward a little more than the length of the said platens; then stops; the lower platen 3, then moves upward, engaging the portion of the conveyer and any articles thereon which are between said platens, under a heavy pressure between said platens; said platen 3, then moves downward and the conveyer 5, then moves forward a distance equal to the length of its surface which has been engaged by the platens 2, and 3, during the pressing operation. This completes one cycleof operation of the press.

It will be noted that in the operation of the press the platen 3, and the conveyer 5, are required to have a step by step or an intermittent motion timed in an orderly sequence to each other. Such intermittent motions are accomplished by the following mechanisms. The shaft 36, is adapted to be constantly rotated, and driven from any available source of power, (not shown). An automatically operating gear and clutch mechanism 35, is provided by which the shaft 6, is caused to rotate for one revolution, then stop for a time equal to the time required for the said shaft to have performed onerevolution. Such a gear and clutch mechanism is not a part of my invention, and also is very commonly known in various types of automatic machines, and as there are "a variety of forms of such a mechanism which could be used in connec tion with my improved press, I have not considered it necessary to describe or illustrate any particularor specific mechanism for this purpose.

In operation the shaft 6, is caused to revolve one complete revolution to perform one complete cycle of operation. The shaft 6,then dwells for a time equal to the time of revolution of the said shaft, during which period the articles on the conveyer 5, which are between the platens 2, and 3. are being subjected to pressure. The revolution of the shaft 6, will cause the cams 7, to move the platen 3, and the movable parts connected therewith, from their lowered position, fore.- ing the platen 3, and the section of the conveyer 5, equal to the extent of the surface of said platen, up into pressure relation with the lower face of the platen 2. This is the pressing step proper. When this position of the parts is accomplished, the shaft 6, stops in its rotationa period equal to the time required for same to have made one revolution, during which time the articles on the conveyer, and between the platens, are being subjected to pressure. When this time has elapsed the shaft 6, again starts to rotate for one complete revolution, which brings the platen 3. down to its lowermost position, so as to permit the portion of the surface of the conveyer 5, which has been subjected to pressure between the said platens, to move forward and emerge from between the said platens. In this movement the conveyer 5, moves a distance equal to a little more than the length of the face of the platens. This movement of the conveyer 5, at the same time that it carries the articles which have been pressed from between the platens, carries another lot of articles between the said platens, which articles have been placed on said conveyer during its period of rest. As the articles emerge from between the platens after being pressed, they are removed from the conveyor 5, and are ready to be packaged for shipment, and thus the cycles of operation of the apparatus are continued. I

The intermittent movement of the conveyer 5. is accomplished through the following described mechanism. clutch member 12, having a sprocket wheel '12, fixed thereto is loosely mounted on the shaft 6, rotatably mounted thereon but is held from any movement longitudinally of said shaft. A clutch member 11, is splined to the shaft 6, and rotates therewith but is adapted to be moved longitudinally of said shaft and so positioned thereon that it may be moved into and out of engagement with the clutch member 12. A cam 9. is fixed on the shaft 6: a lever 13, is pivoted at its lower end to the bracket 14, said lever having a right angled projecting end 13", and is provided with a pin 16, adapted to engage a groove 11, in the clutch member 11. said lever also having a non-friction roller 8, mounted at the outer end of the arm 13, which roller 8, is adapted to engage the face of the cam 9. A spring 10, which surrounds the shaft 6, is placed between the cam 9, and the clutch member 11, which spring has the double function of moving the clutch member 11, longitudinally of the shaft 6, toward and into engagement with the clutch member 12. its other function being to hold the nonfriction roller 8, in engagement with the face of the cam 9. The conveycr 5. is carried on the drums 22. and the rollers 23. On the shaft of one of said drums 22, there is fixed a sprocket wheel 24, and a chain meaeee belt 25, eonnects'the same with a sprocket wheel 26, which has a sprocket wheel 27, fixed thereto, both of which sprocket wheels 26, and 27, are journaled on a shaft, or stud 28, which if a shaft it would be j ournaled on the frame members 1, or if a stud is used, such stud would be fixed in the adjacent side member 1, of the frame. A chain belt 29, connects the sprocket 27 with the sprocket 12, and thus when the shaft 6, is rotating, and when the clutch members 11, and 12, are in engagement, the conveyer 5, is caused to travel forward, and when said clutch members are disengaged said conveyer will be at rest. I

The mechanism for throwing the clutch members 11, and 12, into and out of engagement operates as follows. (See Fig. 4:.) The cam 9, being fixed to the shaft 6, and the clutch member 11, being splined to the shaft 6, and the clutch member 12, being mounted on the shaft 6, so that the said shaft is free to rotate therein, and the lever 13, being pivotally attached to the bracket 14, on the base member 15, so that said lever 13, can have only a rocking motion in a direction longitudinally of the shaft 6, and

- the cam 9, being provided with a raised portion 9, on its working face, as the shaft 6, is rotated the roller 8, will be forced outward by the portion 9 of the cam 9, which will move the lever 13, which by means of the pin 16, engaging the groove 11, of the clutch member 11, will move the clutch member 11, out of engagement with the clutch member 12, and at the same time put the spring 10, under compression. With the parts in the described positions the conveyer 5, will be operatively disconnected from the shaft 6. As the shaft 6, continues to rotate the part 9, of the cam 9, will move out from in under the roller 8, and the spring 10, will force the clutch member 11, toward and into engagement with the clutch member 12, to the position shown in Fig. 4, of the drawings, and when the parts are in thisposition the conveyer 5, will be operatively connected to the shaft 6.

The shafts of the drums 22, are journaled in bearings 32, which bearings are longitudinally adjustable in the yokes 33, such adjustment being accomplished and maintained by means of the screws 34c. Standards 30, are provided to" support the yokes 33, and adjacent parts carried thereby, and spacing rails 31, extend from the fraine members 1, to the yokes 33, providing means for maintaining a proper spaced relation of the yokes 33, and the ends of the frame members l. I

The timing of the movements of the various parts for a cycle of operation of the press is as follows: Starting with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1, that is, with the platens 2, and 3, separated their maximum distance, as will be noted by the position and contour of the cam 7, (which is intended to move in the direction indicated by the arrow thereon), in its relation to the point of contact with the roller 18, the platen 3, will have reached its lowest point of travel when the point on the cam 7, marked A, has reached a line of contact with the roller 18, and at this point the clutch members 11, and 12, become automatically engaged, and remain in engagement until the point on the cam 7, marked B, has reached a point of contact with the roller 18, thus, during this portion of the revolution of the cam 7,.the platen 3, remains stationary in its extreme lower position and the conveyer 5, is traveling forward. The travel of, the conveyer 5, is just a little more than the length of the platens 2, and 3, so that, the portion of said conveyer which has been covered within the area of the said platens emerges entirely outside of said area. Now starting at the point on the cam 7, marked B, atwhich point the clutch members 11, and 12, have been automatically disengaged, and hence the conveyer 5, is at rest. From said point B, around to the point marked G, the

platen 3, is gradually being raised to bring a portion of the conveyer 5, and any articles thereon in the area of said portion, into pressing engagement with the lower face of the platen 2, under a heavy pressure, and when the point C, on the cam 7. has reached the line of engagement with the roller 18, the rotation of the shaft 6, and hence, the cams 7, ceases, and remains at restfor a predetermined period of time, so that, the articles on the conveyer 5, which are between the platens may be subjected to pressure for a-sufiicient period 'of time to accomplish the pressing operation. At the expiration of such predetermined period, the shaft 6, is again caused to make one com plete revolution, and during the movement of the cam 7, from the point C, back to the starting point A, the platen 3, again returns to its lowermost position at which point the conveyer 5, again moves forward,

etc., and thus the cycle of operation is again repeated.

'I have found by experience that the required period of pressure to produce a proper condition of pressing varies from eight (8) to fifteen (15) seconds of time, depending on the condition and weight of the articles to be pressed.

In operating my improved press, the articles to be pressed are either smoothly spread on the conveyer 5, at the intake end of the apparatus, or such articles may be put on wire forms and laid on said conveyer. When said conveyer moves forward the said articles will be carried thereon between the platens 2, and 3, and as the platen 3, is

forced upward into pressure engagement with the conveyer 5, and the platen 2, such articles will be subjected to the pressing operation. During the period that the articles which are between the platens are being subjected to the pressing operation, the portion of the conveyer 5, at the intake end of the machine and which is without the platens is to be again loaded with a supply of articles to be pressed. When the pressing period has elapsed, and the conveyer again moves forward, the articles which have ust been subjected to the pressing operation will emerge outside the area of the platens 2, and- 3, at the discharge end of the apparatus, and those which have been loaded onto said conveyer as-before described, will be carriedbetween the platens to be subjected to the pressing operation, and thus the cycles of operation follow each other'in orderly sequence.

Should it be desired to construct my improved form of press for a semi-automatic operation, the automatically operating gear and clutch mechanism 35, may be replaced with an ordinary manually operated clutch that would give one revolution of the shaft 6. and'then disengage. Such a clutch would constitute no part of my invention, as they are very common in mechanical structures,

namely, in so called, punch presses, and the construction of such manually operated clutches are so Well known to mechanics familiar with such types of machines that the same requires no illustration or descrip: tion.

v I do not wish' to be understood as limiting my invention to the exact details of construction shown and described, for it is obvious that various modifications of my construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or essential features of my invention.

I claim;

1. In a device of the class described; a

frame, a relatively stationary platen mounted thereon, a second platen carried on said frame and adapted to have a reciprocating motion toward and into pressure relation with the first named platen, means for reciprocating said second platen, a belt conveyer adapted to traverse the space between said platens when the same are in separated position and to be engaged by and between said platens when the same are in pressure relation, a shaft, clutch members and a cam for operating said clutch members all of which are operatively mounted on said shaft, and gearing connecting one of said clutch members with said belt conveyer to transmit motion thereto from said shaft, whereby said conveyer is caused to operate in an orderly sequence of steps timed in relation to the movements of said second named platen during a cycle of operation of the device.

2. In a device of the class described; a frame, a platen mounted on said frame and adapted to have a slight movement at right angles to the plane of its face, yielding means for resisting the said movement, a second platen operatively mounted on said frame and adapted to have a reciprocating motion to bring the face thereof into pressure relation with the face of the first named platen, a rotatable shaft, cams on said shaft for actuating the last named platen, a belt conveyer. one side of which extends between said platens and which is engaged between said platens when the same are in pressure relation but which is adapted to travel when the said platens are in separated position, clutch mechanism on said shaft, a cam for throwing said clutch mechanism into and out of engagement, and gearing for connecting said clutch mechanism with said conveyer for actuating the same, whereby said conveyer will move and dwell in an orderly seouence timed in relation to the movements of the second named platen.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aliix my signature to the foregoing specification and claims.

EILERT ALFRED CLEMENTS. 

